topic Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot in SAS Programming

passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 07:27:54 GMT

How can I pass an alphanumeric value with a dot (e.g., PST.2) to a macro? Thanks.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Amir — Thu, 15 May 2025 08:41:08 GMT

Hi,

Please share the code you have tried using the "Insert SAS Code" icon, and also share the log using the "Insert Code" icon ("</>").

I tried the following which appeared to work:

 71         %macro test(arg);
 72           %put The argument was &arg;
 73         %mend test;
 74         
 75         %test(PST.2);
 The argument was PST.2

Thanks & kind regards,

Amir.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 10:48:00 GMT

It did'n work.

My macro:
%macro create_ipay_pct9(input, output, pstn_value);
data &output (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
set &input;
if country not in (' ') or vl not= . then do;
%if %length(&pstn_value) > 0 %then %do;
pstn = &pstn_value;
%end;
end;
run;
%mend create_ipay_pct9;

My call:
%create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, (PCT.2);

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Amir — Thu, 15 May 2025 10:55:46 GMT

Hi,

Please post the full log using the Insert Code icon "</>".

Also your invocation looks like it has an extra "(":

%create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, (PCT.2);

Thanks & kind regards,

Amir.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:04:43 GMT

< I get the ERROR:

ERROR 386-185: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

ERROR 201-322: The option is not recognized and will be ignored.
call the macro:
%create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, (PCT.2));
/>

Thanks

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Amir — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:15:10 GMT

Hi,

Thanks for posting the log. When posting, there are icons above the text box, you can select the icon as below when posting the log:

You don't need the parenthesis around the value when calling the macro. Change the line of code from:

pstn = &pstn_value;

so that it has double quotes around the argument as it contains an alphanumeric value:

pstn = "&pstn_value";

Thanks & kind regards,

Amir.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

PaigeMiller — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:17:54 GMT

@Hoibai wrote:

< I get the ERROR:

ERROR 386-185: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

ERROR 201-322: The option is not recognized and will be ignored.
call the macro:
%create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, (PCT.2));
/>

Thanks

Showing us partial logs like this doesn't help.

Since it is a macro, first turn on macro debugging option by running this command

options mprint;

and then run your macro again and show us the entire log for this macro. Post the log by copying it as text and pasting it into the window that appears when you click on the </> icon.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:18:41 GMT

no, it didn't work
</
%macro create_ipay_pct9(input, output, pstn_value);
data &output (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
set &input;
if country not in (' ') or wert not= . then do;
%if %length(&pstn_value) > 0 %then %do;
pstn = "&pstn_value";
%end;
end;
run;
%mend create_ipay_pct9;

%create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, (PCT2));
/>

my result:

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:24:04 GMT

The Log:

1 ;*';*";*/;quit;run;
2 OPTIONS PAGENO=MIN;
3 %LET _CLIENTTASKLABEL='Programm 1';
4 %LET _CLIENTPROCESSFLOWNAME='Prozessfluss';
5 %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATH='H:\My Documents\#Programm_Tabellen\A-SAS-Programme\XML_Ausgabe_Quartal_Final_20250312 .egp';
6 %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATHHOST='AP923110';
7 %LET _CLIENTPROJECTNAME='XML_Ausgabe_Quartal_Final_20250312 .egp';
8 %LET _SASPROGRAMFILE='';
9 %LET _SASPROGRAMFILEHOST='';
10
11 ODS _ALL_ CLOSE;
12 OPTIONS DEV=SVG;
13 GOPTIONS XPIXELS=0 YPIXELS=0;
14 %macro HTML5AccessibleGraphSupported;
15 %if %_SAS_VERCOMP_FV(9,4,4, 0,0,0) >= 0 %then ACCESSIBLE_GRAPH;
16 %mend;
17 FILENAME EGHTML TEMP;
18 ODS HTML5(ID=EGHTML) FILE=EGHTML
19 OPTIONS(BITMAP_MODE='INLINE')
20 %HTML5AccessibleGraphSupported
MLOGIC(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED): Beginning execution.
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Beginning execution.
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Parameter FMAJOR has value 9
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Parameter FMINOR has value 4
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Parameter FMAINT has value 4
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Parameter VMAJOR has value 0
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Parameter VMINOR has value 0
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Parameter VMAINT has value 0
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LOCAL MAJOR
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LOCAL MINOR
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LOCAL MAINT
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LOCAL CURMAJ
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LOCAL CURMIN
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LOCAL CURMNT
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LET (variable name is CURMAJ)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %IF condition %eval(&CurMaj EQ V) is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LET (variable name is MAJOR)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LET (variable name is MINOR)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LET (variable name is MAINT)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LET (variable name is CURMIN)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %LET (variable name is CURMNT)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %IF condition %eval(&major NE &CurMaj) is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %IF condition %eval(&minor NE &CurMin) is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): %IF condition "&maint" = "" is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV): Ending execution.
MLOGIC(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED): %IF condition %_SAS_VERCOMP_FV(9,4,4, 0,0,0) >= 0 is TRUE
MPRINT(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED): ACCESSIBLE_GRAPH
MLOGIC(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED): Ending execution.
21 ENCODING='utf-8'
22 STYLE=HtmlBlue
23 NOGTITLE
24 NOGFOOTNOTE
25 GPATH=&sasworklocation
26 ;
NOTE: Writing HTML5(EGHTML) Body file: EGHTML
27
28 options mprint;
29 /* Makro zur Erstellung von PCT-Daten */
2 The SAS System 12:59 Thursday, May 15, 2025

30 %macro create_ipay_pct9(input, output, pstn_value);
31 data &output (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
32 set &input;
33 if country not in (' ') or wert not= . then do;
34 %if %length(&pstn_value) > 0 %then %do;
35 pstn = "&pstn_value";
36 %end;
37 end;
38 run;
39 %mend create_ipay_pct9;
40 %create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, (PCT2));
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): Beginning execution.
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): Parameter INPUT has value ipay_pct9202504
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): Parameter OUTPUT has value ipay_pct9_2202504
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): Parameter PSTN_VALUE has value (PCT2)
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): data ipay_pct9_2202504 (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): set ipay_pct9202504;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): if country not in (' ') or wert not= . then do;
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): %IF condition %length(&pstn_value) > 0 is TRUE
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): pstn = "(PCT2)";
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): end;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): run;

NOTE: Variable country is uninitialized.
NOTE: Variable wert is uninitialized.
NOTE: There were 28 observations read from the data set WORK.IPAY_PCT9202504.
NOTE: The data set WORK.IPAY_PCT9_2202504 has 28 observations and 4 variables.
NOTE: Compressing data set WORK.IPAY_PCT9_2202504 increased size by 100.00 percent.
Compressed is 2 pages; un-compressed would require 1 pages.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.00 seconds
cpu time 0.00 seconds

MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9): Ending execution.
41
42
43 %LET _CLIENTTASKLABEL=;
44 %LET _CLIENTPROCESSFLOWNAME=;
45 %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATH=;
46 %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATHHOST=;
47 %LET _CLIENTPROJECTNAME=;
48 %LET _SASPROGRAMFILE=;
49 %LET _SASPROGRAMFILEHOST=;
50
51 ;*';*";*/;quit;run;
52 ODS _ALL_ CLOSE;
53
54
55 QUIT; RUN;

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Amir — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:24:17 GMT

Hi,

What is the length of the variable pstn on the data set, you might just need a length statement to capture longer length values.

Also you have no dot in the value in your latest post, so that is not the issue.

Lastly, see @PaigeMiller's advice as well as mine regarding logs, etc.

Thanks & kind regards,

Amir.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Amir — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:26:39 GMT

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

PaigeMiller — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:32:50 GMT

@Hoibai

you need to read carefully

We want the entire log of the MACRO and not the approx 50 lines before %create_ipay_pct9 and after the macro ends, we don't need anything after the NOTES at the bottom of the run of the macro.

You need to click on the </> icon to open a window to paste the log into. This has been mentioned at least 3 times now, please do this.

We don't need the MLOGIC option turned on, just MPRINT

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:32:05 GMT

I'll take those out:
</
%if %length(&pstn_value) > 0 %then %do;
/>
but it didn't do it either.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:35:00 GMT

1          ;*';*";*/;quit;run;
2          OPTIONS PAGENO=MIN;
3          %LET _CLIENTTASKLABEL='Programm 1';
4          %LET _CLIENTPROCESSFLOWNAME='Prozessfluss';
5          %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATH='H:\My Documents\#Programm_Tabellen\A-SAS-Programme\XML_Ausgabe_Quartal_Final_20250312 .egp';
6          %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATHHOST='AP923110';
7          %LET _CLIENTPROJECTNAME='XML_Ausgabe_Quartal_Final_20250312 .egp';
8          %LET _SASPROGRAMFILE='';
9          %LET _SASPROGRAMFILEHOST='';
10         
11         ODS _ALL_ CLOSE;
12         OPTIONS DEV=SVG;
13         GOPTIONS XPIXELS=0 YPIXELS=0;
14         %macro HTML5AccessibleGraphSupported;
15             %if %_SAS_VERCOMP_FV(9,4,4, 0,0,0) >= 0 %then ACCESSIBLE_GRAPH;
16         %mend;
17         FILENAME EGHTML TEMP;
18         ODS HTML5(ID=EGHTML) FILE=EGHTML
19             OPTIONS(BITMAP_MODE='INLINE')
20             %HTML5AccessibleGraphSupported
MLOGIC(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED):  Beginning execution.
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Beginning execution.
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Parameter FMAJOR has value 9
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Parameter FMINOR has value 4
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Parameter FMAINT has value 4
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Parameter VMAJOR has value 0
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Parameter VMINOR has value 0
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Parameter VMAINT has value 0
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LOCAL  MAJOR
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LOCAL  MINOR
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LOCAL  MAINT
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LOCAL  CURMAJ
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LOCAL  CURMIN
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LOCAL  CURMNT
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LET (variable name is CURMAJ)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %IF condition %eval(&CurMaj EQ V) is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LET (variable name is MAJOR)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LET (variable name is MINOR)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LET (variable name is MAINT)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LET (variable name is CURMIN)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %LET (variable name is CURMNT)
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %IF condition %eval(&major NE &CurMaj) is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %IF condition %eval(&minor NE &CurMin) is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  %IF condition "&maint" = "" is FALSE
MLOGIC(_SAS_VERCOMP_FV):  Ending execution.
MLOGIC(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED):  %IF condition %_SAS_VERCOMP_FV(9,4,4, 0,0,0) >= 0 is TRUE
MPRINT(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED):   ACCESSIBLE_GRAPH
MLOGIC(HTML5ACCESSIBLEGRAPHSUPPORTED):  Ending execution.
21             ENCODING='utf-8'
22             STYLE=HtmlBlue
23             NOGTITLE
24             NOGFOOTNOTE
25             GPATH=&sasworklocation
26         ;
NOTE: Writing HTML5(EGHTML) Body file: EGHTML
27         
28         options mprint;
29         /* Makro zur Erstellung von PCT-Daten */
2                                                          The SAS System                               12:59 Thursday, May 15, 2025

30         %macro create_ipay_pct9(input, output, pstn_value);
31             data &output (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
32                 set &input;
33         		if country not in (' ') or wert not= . then do;
34                       pstn = "&pstn_value";
35                 end;
36             run;
37         %mend create_ipay_pct9;
38         %create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, (PCT2));
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):  Beginning execution.
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):  Parameter INPUT has value ipay_pct9202504
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):  Parameter OUTPUT has value ipay_pct9_2202504
MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):  Parameter PSTN_VALUE has value (PCT2)
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   data ipay_pct9_2202504 (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   set ipay_pct9202504;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   if country not in (' ') or wert not= . then do;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   pstn = "(PCT2)";
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   end;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   run;

NOTE: Variable country is uninitialized.
NOTE: Variable wert is uninitialized.
NOTE: There were 28 observations read from the data set WORK.IPAY_PCT9202504.
NOTE: The data set WORK.IPAY_PCT9_2202504 has 28 observations and 4 variables.
NOTE: Compressing data set WORK.IPAY_PCT9_2202504 increased size by 100.00 percent. 
      Compressed is 2 pages; un-compressed would require 1 pages.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.01 seconds
      cpu time            0.00 seconds
      

MLOGIC(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):  Ending execution.
39         
40         
41         %LET _CLIENTTASKLABEL=;
42         %LET _CLIENTPROCESSFLOWNAME=;
43         %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATH=;
44         %LET _CLIENTPROJECTPATHHOST=;
45         %LET _CLIENTPROJECTNAME=;
46         %LET _SASPROGRAMFILE=;
47         %LET _SASPROGRAMFILEHOST=;
48         
49         ;*';*";*/;quit;run;
50         ODS _ALL_ CLOSE;
51         
52         
53         QUIT; RUN;
54

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Amir — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:37:40 GMT

Hi,

What is the length of the variable pstn on the data set?

Thanks & kind regards,

Amir.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

PaigeMiller — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:50:08 GMT

Thanks, you provided the macro in the code box.

However it would really help if you read and followed the rest of the instructions. We don't need the 50 or so lines of the log before %create_ipay_pct9 is called. We're trying to help you, but you have to help us.

MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   data ipay_pct9_2202504 (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   set ipay_pct9202504;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   if country not in (' ') or wert not= . then do;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   pstn = "(PCT2)";
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   end;
MPRINT(CREATE_IPAY_PCT9):   run;

NOTE: Variable country is uninitialized.
NOTE: Variable wert is uninitialized.

The macro fails because in the &input data set, there is no variable named COUNTRY and no variable named WERT, so SAS doesn't know what to do. In essence, this isn't a macro error, it is a BASE SAS error, you can't use variable names that don't exist in the data set.

Which brings up a discussion of "best practice" when writing macros. First you need to create code that works without macros and without macro variables, for one possible set of values if input, output and pstn_value. It appears you have not done that. Had you done that, you could fix that code and get it to work before writing the macro, based on working code. You need to do that and show us the working code without macros and without macro variables.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:40:32 GMT

the lenght of pstn = 25

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Hoibai — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:48:07 GMT

options mprint;
/* Makro zur Erstellung von PCT-Daten */
%macro create_ipay_pct9(input, output, pstn_value);
    data &output (keep=pstn area nmbr vl);
        set &input;
		if area not in (' ') or vl not= . then do;
              pstn = "&pstn_value";
        end; 
    run;
%mend create_ipay_pct9;
%create_ipay_pct9(ipay_pct9&year.&month, ipay_pct9_2&year.&month, PCT.2);

Thanks for pointing out the error in the macro. I've corrected the error and now it works as it should.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Amir — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:54:20 GMT

Hi,

Congratulations on working code - I assume the truncation issue was resolved too. It's good to see your code posted in a code box.

I would further suggest you mark @PaigeMiller's post as the solution, as that identified the (one of the) problem(s) - and all from the benefit of sharing the log.

Thanks & kind regards,

Amir.

Re: passing of parameters an alphanumeric value with a dot

Tom — Thu, 15 May 2025 14:25:13 GMT

@Hoibai wrote:

How can I pass an alphanumeric value with a dot (e.g., PST.2) to a macro? Thanks.

Dots (aka periods) do not normally cause any trouble for the macro processor.

The only place is when want to place a period immediately after the value of a macro variable reference. In your case if you wanted the value of PST to come from a macro variable named PREFIX you might try to use:

&prefix.2

But that will not work because the macro processor uses the period to mark the end of the macro variable name. In this case so that it knows the macro variable is named PREFIX and not PREFIX2. So to get the period into the value you need to include a second period.

&prefix..2

That character that does cause trouble with macro calls is the comma. That is because the macro processor uses comma to delimit the parameter values being passed. If you need to pass in a comma to a macro call you will need to mask it some how. One easy way is to design the macro to expect the value to have actual quotes around it.

%macro mymac(input,output,value);
data &output; 
  set &input;
  name = &value ;
run;
%mend;
%mymac(sashelp.class,class,"Smith, Sam");

Note that the quotes are part of the value.

You could also use ( ) to mask the value, again the ( ) will be part of the value.

%macro mymac2(input,output,value);
data &output; 
  set &input;
  where name in &value ;
run;
%mend;
%mymac2(class,class2,("Alfred","Smith, Sam"));

And finally you could use macro quoting.

%quote(Smith, Sam)